South Korea’s top court has officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office after he was impeached for trying to use the military to take control of the government.
The court ruled on Friday, saying President Yoon broke the country’s constitution by sending armed soldiers to block lawmakers from stopping his martial law order. The court called his actions a serious violation of democracy and law.
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President Yoon, 64, was already suspended by the National Assembly last December. He is also facing separate criminal charges for insurrection. Following the court’s decision, new presidential elections must take place within 60 days.
Many South Koreans watched the court’s decision live. Protesters against Yoon celebrated in the streets, cheering and crying with joy. But Yoon’s supporters were angry, shouting and threatening the judges, who now have extra police protection.
The court said Yoon’s use of the military for political reasons betrayed the people’s trust. Opposition lawmakers welcomed the verdict, while members of Yoon’s party quietly left the courtroom.
Yoon gave a short apology, saying he failed to meet the people’s expectations.
This is the second time a South Korean president has been removed by the Constitutional Court. The first was President Park Geun-hye in 2017.
Since the martial law attempt, the country has been without a proper president, and several crises have occurred, including wildfires and an aviation disaster. South Korea also faced new 25% tariffs from the U.S. this week.
The acting president, Han Duck-soo, will lead the country until new elections are held.
A professor told AFP that this shows South Korean democracy is strong and can survive even a serious threat like this.
After the verdict, pictures of Yoon began to be removed from military offices, as enquired by law.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, said the ruling proves that no one is above the law in South Korea.
President Yoon still has to face a separate trial on charges related to his attempt to take over the government by force.